Tech3 rider Maverick Vinales has withdrawn from the remainder of the United States Grand Prix due to lingering effects from an injury he suffered more than nine months ago.
Although Vinales had completed the opening two rounds of the 2026 MotoGP season in Thailand and Brazil following a recovery period from his Sachsenring injury.
Motorsport.com reported earlier this week that the Spaniard was in significant pain after Goiania and his participation in the US GP was in doubt.
As expected, Vinales used the opening practice session at Austin to assess his fitness level, and concluded that it was better to sit out the weekend.
In a statement released just prior to the main practice session, Vinales also revealed that he will undergo a “minor procedure” in Europe to remove a screw that had become loose in his shoulder.
“Following further assessment with MotoGP’s medical advisor, Maverick Vinales has elected not to continue competing for the remainder of this weekend’s Grand Prix of the United States,” it said.
“Maverick has been experiencing pain and limited power in his left shoulder and, following investigations earlier this week, it was discovered that a screw fitted after his Sachsenring injury last year has become displaced.
“He will now travel back to Europe to undergo a minor procedure to remove the screw, with the intention of being fit to return for the Grand Prix of Spain.”
Maverick Vinales, Red Bull KTM Tech 3
Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Speaking to DAZN, he added: “I’m fine, all things considered,” he told DAZN. “The issue with my shoulder is quite clear. After Brazil, I was in more pain than usual. It wasn’t normal: the bike might have been performing badly, but the result in Brazil was anything but normal.
“I went for a CT scan here in America, and we saw that the screw in the supraspinatus tendon had come loose. It’s not completely out, but almost; it’s on the verge.
“I’m losing strength. The problem is that I ask my body to perform, but the muscle doesn’t respond. That’s the explanation we’ve come to understand. I’m stubborn; I want to race come what may, but Ángel Charte has made it very clear to me that the risk is far greater than the benefit of racing here. And it didn’t make much sense anyway: I couldn’t do 10 laps at full throttle, because this circuit is very demanding.
“The plan now is to go home, try to stimulate the shoulder properly to maintain muscle mass, and then have the operation on Tuesday, have the screw removed, and start my recovery.”
“I was quick today; I lose everything in the corner exits, but I’m strong on the rest of the track. I’m confident about that, which is why I wanted to give it a go. I hope my KTM teammates can finish the rest of the weekend strongly.”
Vinales suffered the first major injury of his MotoGP career when he was thrown off his KTM in qualifying for the 2025 German Grand Prix.
The crash ended the early momentum the Spaniard had gained following his switch from KTM, and he could only finish a handful of races in the second half of the season.
The winter break, combined with his new partnership with three-time MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo, was supposed to propel him back to the front, but he struggled for performance in the opening two rounds of the season.
The 31-year-old is yet to score a point this season, having finished 16th in the Buriram season opener and struggling to 18th in Brazil.
He will now take advantage of an unexpected gap in the 2026 calendar following the postponement of the Qatar Grand Prix to make a full recovery.
The next round of the season at Jerez is scheduled on 26 April.
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– The Autosport.com Team
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